WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Educator makes house calls

Educator makes house calls

By Cheryl Mercedes - bio | email

GONZALES, LA (WAFB) - A new study by Nielson Corporation shows that children between the ages of two and five watch more than 32 hours of television a week. An educator in Ascension Parish is introducing a program called Tutor Doctor, aimed at pulling children away from the tube and into a world of creative learning. 

Education Consultant, John Boswell, is doing what most parents do with their children. He is helping his son, Jackson, grasp some rather difficult material. For a first grader, learning to read and write takes a lot of practice. It's a slow process. But, Jackson is getting there. Not many children want to study on a weekend afternoon. But, Jackson's dad is taking learning outside of the classroom.

Trips to the zoo, to take them out and about, points of history, battlefields," said Boswell.

The program is called Tutor Doctor. It's tutoring service that started in Canada back in 1999 and quickly spread into the United States. Boswell has now planted the idea in Ascension Parish.

"Growing up I had some one-on-one opportunities myself, and I saw the power in that at a very young age," said Boswell.

The tutors meet with students and teachers to get a better understanding of their curriculum. The fun takes off from there. Instructors do not have to be certified teachers. But, they must have some qualities you can't really be taught.

"A passion for learning, and a passion for making an impact in someone else's life," explained Boswell.

Boswell is hoping to have seven more people with that winning attitude making house calls by the end of the month.

Boswell says sessions typically range between $39 and $49 an hour.

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